25. Ophelia

Ophelia discovers that Dr. Bancroft is her mother's killer and the architect of the attacks against her. Trapped alone with him in his office, she is violently attacked and nearly murdered, losing consciousness as he suffocates her.

After a week back at Sorrowsong, Ophelia enjoys intimate time with Alex before he receives a call from Fleur's mentor about her struggling academically and poor attendance. Later, Mia FaceTimes them, and Alex and Ophelia share a warm moment with his younger sister. Ophelia heads to study with Dr. Bancroft, exchanging flirtatious texts with Alex en route. During her meeting with Bancroft to discuss her essay, she catches the scent of his aftershave—Old Spice—and experiences a visceral panic attack. The smell triggers a horrifying realization: Bancroft is the man who drowned her, killed her roommate, and spiked her drink. He reveals he murdered Ophelia's mother out of obsession, and that he orchestrated her attacks to "have fun." He confesses to poisoning her drink, killing her roommate, and attempting to drown her in the tarn. When Ophelia tries to escape, he locks the door and attacks her with a knife. She fights back desperately, kicking him and attempting to reach her penknife, but he overpowers her and ultimately suffocates her into unconsciousness. As her vision fades, she is sustained only by thoughts of Alex's love.